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altitude

AL-tih-tood /ˈæltɪtjuːd/

nounB1SATACTTOEFLIELTS

technicalgeneral

The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level.

Usually implies vertical distance above a reference point (typically mean sea level), unlike 'height' which can refer to the size of an object from base to top.

The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin word 'altus', meaning high or deep. In Latin, 'altitudo' referred to both height looking up and depth looking down, but English split these concepts, reserving 'altitude' strictly for looking up.

Word relationships

elevation: Elevation typically refers to the height of landforms (like mountains) above sea level, while altitude refers to the height of airborne objects.

depth: Depth refers to distance downward from a surface, whereas altitude is distance upward.

Commonly confused with

latitude: Latitude measures angular distance north or south of the equator, while altitude measures vertical height above sea level.

Word family

altitudinal (adjective): Relating to altitude or height above sea level.

Collocations

cruising altitude
high altitude
loss of altitude

Example sentences

"The captain announced that we had reached our cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, where the air is thinner and fuel efficiency is maximized." Commercial flight operations
"Athletes often train at high altitude to stimulate the production of red blood cells, improving their oxygen efficiency." Athletic training

Memory hook

Think of an 'altimeter' measuring how 'high' you can go. Height above sea level.

When not to use

Do not use to describe the height of a person or a building standing on the ground; use 'height' instead.

Fun facts

At extremely high altitudes, water boils at much lower temperatures because of the decreased atmospheric pressure, making it impossible to brew a proper cup of tea.